Homeless man in recycling truck escapes death

Jul. 22, 2014
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by Michael Winter, USA TODAY

by Michael Winter, USA TODAY

A San Francisco homeless man sleeping in a Dumpster on Tuesday morning escaped being crushed to death inside a recycling truck that emptied the bin full of cardboard.

The unidentified man was rescued after the longtime Recology driver, Mike Jones, "heard this gentleman pounding in the back of the truck" as he made his rounds in the city's Sunset District about 6:30 a.m., company spokesman Robert Reed told KNTV-TV.

"He actually talked to the gentleman from the cab of the truck and said, 'I'm going to drive you to the fire station,' " he added.

Firefighters two blocks away freed the man, who suffered a shoulder injury after being partially crushed by the compactor. He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

"This is a little bit out of the ordinary for us," Battalion Chief Kevin Smith told KGO-TV.

Smith called Jones "a hero. He saved his life."

Heroes never rest, however. Jones went back to work and finished his route.